JP2001191950A - Canopy for vehicle roof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a canopy for a vehicle roof with planned bent lines unconspicuous after installation of the canopy. SOLUTION: This canopy 1 for a vehicle roof is provided with a primarily rigid base structural body 2, an at least partially flexible cover layer 6 facing a car room, and at least one of planned bent lines 13, 14. A canopy portion 11 can be folded or bent downward toward the cover layer 6 along the planned bent lines 13, 14. The planned bent lines 13, 14 are split into two separated partially bent lines 15', 15" at the curved portion 17 of the canopy 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention comprises an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment, and at least one predetermined bending line.
The invention relates to a vehicle roof canopy of the type in which the canopy part can be bent or bent down towards the cover layer along said predetermined bending line for mounting on the vehicle roof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle roof having a sandwich structure and an inner panel formed as a roof canopy is known from DE 197 09 016. The vehicle roof is manufactured separately from the vehicle body, and the outer edge of the roof can be mounted and fixed on the vehicle body frame. During installation, the roof canopy can partially fold down the corner area to pass through the vehicle body roof opening formed by the vehicle body frame. The canopy may be provided with a predetermined bend to facilitate a downward bending of the canopy marginal area and folding at the four corners of the vehicle roof. For this reason, a notch-shaped recess can be provided at the bent portion or the bent portion on the side opposite to the canopy surface.

[0003]

In the prior art, when the canopy is formed three-dimensionally, the cover layer may be excessively expanded or damaged, or the predetermined bending line may become visible after the canopy is attached. is there. An object of the present invention is to provide a canopy for a vehicle roof that can solve such problems of the related art. The object of the present invention is to create a canopy of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the canopy can be bent or bent without substantial overexpansion or damage of the cover layer even when the canopy is formed three-dimensionally. Is to do.

[0004] It is a further object of the invention to create a vehicle roof canopy of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the predetermined bending line is not visible after the canopy has been mounted.

[0005]

The first object of the present invention is attained in the above-mentioned canopy by dividing a predetermined bending line into two separated bending lines at a curved portion of the canopy according to the present invention. . Due to the two partial bending lines, for example, when the edges are folded or bent, the mutually driven canopy parts bend downwards of the canopy without interpenetration, as would be the case if they were not divided into partial bending lines. In the lower part of the canopy, the canopy can be adapted to be moved around a raised swivel or curved line located at the highest plane of the canopy. Thus, an essentially rigid canopy bend is possible and the lower cover layer is not over-expanded. Thus, after the edge turns, essentially no visual damage of the intended bending line is observed.

A second problem is that in the above canopy,
According to the invention, the problem is solved by providing the base structure with expansion means in the area of the predetermined bending line for tensioning or expanding the cover at the folded-in installation position of the canopy. By means of the expansion, at the predetermined bending line, a cover (for example, a laminated fabric or a foam rubber layer)
Are thus tensed, so that when the canopy is installed, the bend is not visible. For example, if the partial bending line is configured as a slit or cut in the base structure, the expanding means can be inserted into one of the partial bending lines.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. It is advantageous if the spacing between the partial bend lines or cuts increases with increasing vertical distance from the theoretical bend line of the foldable canopy edge to the partial bend line or cut. Thus, a maximal adaptation of the bending behavior of the bendable canopy edge can be achieved even if the bumps and depressions form a well-defined pattern in the canopy. During folding of the canopy edge, the intermediate piece of the canopy between the partial bend lines or cuts is pivoted so that one of the cuts opens close to the theoretical curve line and the other cut closes. It is expedient to design By adapting the curvature line formed to the theoretical curvature line, a curvature of the canopy edge as far as possible without overexpansion can be achieved.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The canopy 1 of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle (e.g. a passenger car), has an upper base structure 2 facing the roof surface of the vehicle roof or roof module at the installation position of the canopy 1 (see FIG. 2).
The base structure 2 is disposed on both sides of the foam material layer 3 and the reinforced foam material layer 3 and has a sandwich structure, thus forming a rigid, rigid and essentially non-curved base structure 2 above and below. And glass fiber mats 4 and 5. The canopy 1 has a cover layer 6 (e.g., a fabric or a fabric having a foam material base) adhered to a base structure 2 on a lower surface facing the interior of the vehicle. This cover layer 6 is at least partially flexible.

The canopy 1 is adapted to the interior contour of the roof as a lining of the vehicle roof and has two raised areas 7, 8 (see FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown, the raised area extends across the canopy 1 near the front end 9 and the rear end 10 to approximately the canopy side edge. Both side edge portions or edge regions (edges) 11, 12 of the canopy 1 cover the side beams of the roof frame of the vehicle roof (not shown) in the installed state. At the time of installation, corresponding to German Patent No. 197009016,
The canopy 1 can be inserted into the vehicle roof from above, for example as part of a prefab roof module,
The two edge areas 11, 12 of the canopy 1 are foldable or foldable downwards, so that the canopy 1 can be inserted through a smaller opening than the canopy 1 which is open from the roof form. To this end, the canopy 1 has two planned bending lines (planned bending points) 13 and 14 extending in the longitudinal direction, and the respective edge areas 11; 12 can be folded downward along the bending lines. The predetermined bending lines 13 and 14 are formed as cuts 15 in the base structure, which cut the upper glass fiber layer 4 and the foam material layer 3 but do not cut the lower glass fiber layer 5. The cut 15 is provided in the raised area 7; 8 of the canopy 1.
And essentially coincides with the theoretical fold line 16 tangent to the highest point of the raised areas 7, 8 as a longitudinal tangent. The cut 15 is provided in the curved section 17 following the raised areas 7, 8 at the front end 9 or the rear end 1 of the canopy 1.
Either towards 0 or toward a concave intermediate area 18 between both raised areas 7, 8 (see FIG. 5) or divided into two separate cuts 15 ', 15''(see FIG. 5). (See FIG. 3). When the edge 11 of the canopy 1 is bent downward, the cut 15 opens in the raised areas 7, 8 (see FIG. 2). The intermediate piece 19 between the two cuts 15 ′, 15 ″ is pivoted in the part of the predetermined bending line 13, 14 vertically separated from the theoretical bending line (FIG. 4), thus one cut 15 '' approaches the theoretical fold line 16, where it opens, while the other cut 15 'closes (see also FIGS. 8, 9). The cuts 15, 15 ', 15 "can be configured as straight thin or wide cuts or punched portions (perforated portions) or can have, for example, a U-shaped or V-shaped notch shape.

The distance between both separate cuts 15 ′, 15 ″ is determined from the theoretical bending line 16 by the cuts 15 ′, 1 ″.
Increases with the magnitude of the vertical distance up to 5 ″, so that whenever the edge area 11;
′, 15 ″ are located in the vicinity of the theoretical bending line 16, so that the canopy 1 formed from the raised areas 7, 8 and the arch part may cause overexpansion or damage of the cover layer 6. Without bending at the predetermined bending lines 13, 14 or cuts 15, 15 ', 15''. The base structure 2 has some flexibility to support folding without overexpansion of the cover layer, even if determined to be essentially rigid.

When the canopy is viewed from the vertical direction, the two predetermined bending lines or cuts 15 ', 15'
′ Are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to the theoretical or imaginary bending line 16 or have one cut 15 ′ or 15
″ Is closer to the bend line 16 than the other cut. The folds of the edges 11, 12 may be opposed to the restoring force of the lower glass fiber layer 5 that is elastically deformed at the time of the fold, or if the cut 15 does not completely cut the foam material layer 3, This is performed against the restoring force of the glass fiber layer 5 and a part of the foam material layer. When assembled, the edges 11, 12 are held in a downwardly bent position. After positioning the canopy 1 at the installation position of the vehicle roof, the edges 11, 12
Is bent or turned back to a normal position where it is not bent by the restoring force. In this case, the cover layer 6 is tensioned along the predetermined bending line and is arranged in the original shape.

In one embodiment, the base structure 2
The elastic tension element 20 fixed to the upper glass fiber mat 4 on the upper surface of the
′, 15 ″ (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Base structure 2
Alternatively, if the restoring force of the glass fiber mat 5 is insufficient, the tensioning element 20 provides an additional restoring force to bend the edges 11,12. The tension element 20 is, for example, a rubber belt. The base structure 2 has two cuts 15
′, 15 ″ at the intermediate piece 19 (see FIG. 5, in which case the cuts 15 ′, 15 ′
Between '' is like one cut. ). In this way, a particularly flexible deformability of the part is ensured. Instead of the base structure 2, a resilient material 21 which is compressible, has a restoring force and is different from the base structure is provided on both cuts 15 ′, 1
5 '' (see FIG. 7). The elastic material (for example, a foam material) can be processed when the base structure 2 is manufactured. In this case, the cuts are not actual cuts, but merely material transitions. On the other hand, this is, of course, the intermediate piece 1 cut out between the cuts 15 ', 15''.
9 can be used instead.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show an embodiment of the canopy 1 in which the expanding means 22 is inserted into the cut 15 opened by bending the edge 11 downward. The cut 15 is formed in a relatively flat portion of the canopy 1 with a gap width of, for example, 1 mm. The extension means 22 is, for example, 1.1-1.5 m
2 is a two-part profile strip having a total thickness in the range of m. Each profile strip 23 ', 23 "
Are respectively adhered to the cross section of the base structure 2. When the edge 11 is turned over, the two profile strips 23 ′, 23 ″ abut each other, and the two adjacent base structure parts 2 ′, 2 ″ are mutually enlarged by the cut 15, thus: The lower flexible cover layer 6
It is extended. This expansion in the expected bending line prevents the expected bending line from being regarded as a visual disturbance of the cover layer 6 at the installation position of the canopy 1.

Further, a tension member 24 in the form of a rubber belt or the like is used.
Can be tensioned and fixed to the upper surfaces of both the profile strips 23 ', 23''. The tension member, in the manner already described,
It is bent downward to assist the edge 11 in bending back. The expansion means 22 may be a spring device made of metal or synthetic resin or a foam material which is elastically compressible and then expands again. The present invention configured as described above has the following features. First, it has an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment, and at least one predetermined bending line, and includes a canopy portion for mounting to a vehicle roof. In a vehicle roof canopy of the type which can be bent or bent downwards towards the cover along said predetermined bending line, the predetermined bending lines 13, 14 have two separated partial bending lines (2) at the curved portion 17 of the canopy. (Kink line or Kink point) 15
, 15 ''.

This allows an essentially rigid canopy to bend and the lower cover layer is not overly expanded. Thus, after the edge turns, essentially no visual damage of the intended bending line is observed. Second, it has an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the cabin, and at least one predetermined bending line, and includes a canopy portion for mounting to a vehicle roof. In a vehicle roof canopy of the type that can be bent or bent downward toward the cover along the predetermined bending line, the base structure 2 is provided with the predetermined bending line 1.
In the area of 3, 14, expansion means 22, 23 are provided which hold the cover layer 6 in a tensioned or expanded state in the folded-up installation position of the canopy 1.

[0016] Thereby, the cover (for example, a sticking cloth or a foamed rubber layer) is tensioned at the predetermined bending line by the expanding means, so that when the canopy is incorporated, the bent portion is not visible. . Third, in addition to the second, the expansion means 22 and 23 are provided on the base structure 2.
Is inserted into the cut 15 on the upper surface of the. Fourth, in addition to the second, expansion means 22 and 23 are embedded in the base structure 2 in the area of the predetermined bending lines 13 and 14.

Fifth, in addition to the second or third aspect, the expanding means 22 and 23 are provided with a two-part profile strip 23.
, 23 ''. Sixth, in addition to the second or third, in addition to the second or third, expansion means 22, 23
Is an elastic foam material. Seventh, in addition to the first, the predetermined bending line 13, 14 is provided with one notch 15 or two notches 15 ′, 15 on the upper surface of the base structure 2.
''.

Eighth, in addition to the first or seventh, the spacing between the partial bend lines or cuts 15 ′, 15 ″ may be different from the theoretical curvature line 16 of the foldable canopy edges 11, 12. Partially bent line or cut 15 ', 1
It increases with increasing vertical distance up to 5 ″. Ninth
In addition to the first, seventh or eighth, the canopy edge 1
When the folds 1 and 12 are partially bent or cut 15
The intermediate piece 19 of the canopy 1 between the ′, 15 ″ is swiveled, so that one cut 15 ″ opens close to the theoretical curve line 16 and the other cut 15 ′ closes.

Tenth, an essentially rigid base structure;
An at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment and at least one predetermined bend line, wherein the canopy portion is folded down along the predetermined bend line toward the cover for mounting on the vehicle roof. In a bendable or bendable vehicle roof canopy, the predetermined bend lines 13, 14 are provided by a cut 1 in the upper surface of the base structure 2.
5 This allows for an essentially rigid canopy bend, the lower cover layer is not over-expanded, and visual damage of the intended bend line after edge folding is essentially perceived. Absent.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified.

[0021]

According to the present invention described in detail above, an essentially rigid canopy can be bent, and the lower cover layer
Without being excessively expanded, visual damage of the expected bending line after edge folding can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a canopy for a vehicle roof.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy having one predetermined bending line, taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy having two predetermined bending lines, taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of a canopy showing a state where an edge area is bent.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 showing one embodiment of the structure of the planned bending line;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the structure of the planned bending line.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 showing yet another embodiment of the structure of the planned bending line.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy along the line BB of FIG. 1 showing the edge not folded down.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy of FIG. 8 showing a state in which the edge is folded downward.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy showing one expected bending line and a bent edge area.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the canopy showing a state where an edge range is returned to an installation position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a canopy provided with an extension means at a predetermined bending line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Canopy 2 Base structure 3 Foam material layer 4 Upper glass fiber mat 5 Lower glass fiber mat 6 Cover layer 7, 8 Uplift area 9 Front end 10 Rear end 11, 12, Edge 13, 14, Expected bending line 15 Cut 15 ' , 15 '' notch 16 theoretical bending line 17 curved part 18 intermediate area 19 intermediate piece 20 tension element 21 elastic material 22 expansion means 23 ', 23' 'profile strip 24 tension member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Maoricio Krupuweid Germany, 80634 Munich, Schlershuttlese 4

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A canopy portion having an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment, and at least one predetermined bending line, for mounting to a vehicle roof. In a vehicle roof canopy of the type which can be bent or bent downwards towards the cover along said predetermined bending line, the predetermined bending line (13, 14) being two spaced apart at the curved part (17) of the canopy. Bent line (15 ', 15'
') A canopy for a vehicle roof, which is divided into: 2. A canopy portion having an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment, and at least one predetermined bending line, for mounting to a vehicle roof. In the form of a vehicle roof canopy which can be bent or bent downwards toward the cover along the predetermined bending line, the base structure (2) is provided in the range of the predetermined bending line (13, 14) with the canopy ( The expansion means (2) for holding the cover layer (6) in a tensioned or expanded state at the folded-in position of (1).
2, 23). A canopy for a vehicle roof. 3. The vehicle roof canopy according to claim 2, wherein the extension means (22, 23) are inserted into cuts (15) in the upper surface of the base structure (2). 4. The vehicle roof according to claim 2, wherein the extension means (22, 23) are embedded in the area of the predetermined bending line (13, 14) of the base structure (2). Canopy. 5. The canopy for a vehicle roof according to claim 2, wherein the extension means (22, 23) is a two-part profile strip (23 ', 23''). 6. The canopy for a vehicle roof according to claim 2, wherein the expansion means (22, 23) is an elastic foam material. 7. A predetermined bend line (13, 14) is formed in one notch (15) or 2 in the upper surface of the base structure (2).
2. The canopy for a vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the canopy is formed from two cuts (15 ', 15 "). 8. A partially bent line or cut (15 ′,
15 ″) increases the vertical distance from the theoretical bending line (16) of the foldable canopy edge (11, 12) to the partial bending line or cut (15 ′, 15 ″). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Or a canopy for a vehicle roof according to 7. 9. When folding the canopy edges (11, 12), partial bending lines or cuts (15 ', 15'')
The intermediate piece (19) of the canopy (1) is swiveled,
9. A vehicle roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein one cut (15 ") opens close to the theoretical curve line (16) and the other cut (15") closes. For canopy. 10. A canopy portion having an essentially rigid base structure, an at least partially flexible cover layer facing the passenger compartment, and at least one predetermined bending line, for mounting to a vehicle roof. In the vehicle canopy of the type which can bend or bend downward toward the cover along the predetermined bending line, the predetermined bending line (13, 14) is provided with a notch (15) on the upper surface of the base structure (2). ), A canopy for a vehicle roof.